Royal Caribbean is betting big on private islands and destinations.
In addition to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti, the cruise line plans to add private-destination Beach Clubs in Nassau, on Paradise Island, and in Cozumel.
The Beach Clubs are a little different from Perfect Day in that they will be added-fee and limited-capacity pool and beach experiences.
They will borrow heavily from what people love about Perfect Day, but the Royal Beach Club experience won't be an included part of your cruise in the way that CocoCay is.
Related: Royal Caribbean makes booking change passengers will love
While the cruise line does not say it this way, the Nassau and Cozumel Beach Clubs will take ports that many frequent passengers are bored with and add something that should make those stops desirable. In addition, Royal Caribbean will make money from charging for access to these new destinations.
In addition, Royal Caribbean also plans to build Perfect Day Mexico at what's currently the Costa Maya port. The cruise line took a big step toward making that happen, and Doug Parker has all the news about what the cruise line did on the latest Cruise News Today.
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Royal Caribbean closes on Costa Maya
Transcript
Royal Caribbean has finalized a deal to purchase the port of Costa Maya, Mexico.
This according to a recent SEC filing, the $292 million acquisition includes the port and additional land attached and is expected to officially close next year pending regulatory approval.
This purchase aligns with Royal Caribbean's recent announcement of its new Perfect Day Mexico, a water park and private destination in Costa Maya.
The port will be included in its Western Caribbean itinerary starting in 2027 and will use Costa Maya's existing infrastructure rather than building new docking facilities.
Now to be clear, other cruise lines can still use the port area as Perfect Day Mexico will be built on an adjoining piece of land.
And Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new mascot, Ducky the Duck. Yeah, joining the fleet to celebrate the cruising ducks trend.
Editor's note: Carnival does not consider the new character a mascot.
“The duck character introduced by our photo team is one of many characters available for guests to take fun photos with and is not an official mascot,” the cruise line shared in a statement to Come Cruise With Me.
Ducky recently debuted aboard Carnival Jubilee. It will eventually be rolled out to other ships. Carnival, of course, is known for its series of mascots, including Fun Ship Freddy, Cat in the Hat, and a Towel Animal Elephant.
If you'd rather skip the duck hunt, you could still find a smoked version of Ducky on the main dining room menu.
ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
And Tropical Storm Raphael has developed unexpectedly late in the 2024 hurricane season with the National Hurricane Center forecasting it to intensify into a hurricane by [Nov. 6].
Now, warnings are already in effect for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands as the storm's path threatens parts of the Caribbean and will potentially make landfall on the Gulf Coast by this weekend.
In response, MSC Cruises, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have made itinerary changes, as the storm's wind field is reaching as far as the Bahamas. If you're cruising out of the Gulf Coast, especially this weekend, make sure to monitor your cruise line.
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